Holly High sweeps Byhalia
The biggest play of Friday night’s cross-county clash between Holly Springs and Byhalia might have been an offensive rebound.
With the Hawks clinging to a 54-51 lead with 27 seconds remaining, Holly High’s Jaylen Sims did the board work off a missed free throw.
He passed to point guard Ded’drick Faulkner, who was fouled. Faulkner hit a pair of key free throws and then two more with 10 ticks left after the Indians pulled back within three. Holly Springs left Byhalia with a 58-53 win in Region 2-3A.
“The game was intense and competitive as usual,” said Andre Jones, head coach of the Hawks. “We were the best team on this night. It’s always great to pick up a district win.”
The victory avenged an earlier home loss to the Indians. The two rivals could possibly meet again in the district tournament, to be played in Holly Springs February 7-11.
The momentum changed hands several times last Friday.
The Hawks took an early lead on Jabez Jones’s bucket. Byhalia went up by four, 9-5, on Derrick Beard’s three-point play with 2:47 left in the first. In the final 10 seconds of the quarter, Ded’Drick Faulkner scored off an assist from Marquavous Jones, and Holly High led 13-11.
The second quarter was pretty much all Hawks.
Richaud Kirklin’s basket in the lane pushed the lead to 2113 at the 5:16 mark. Jabari Johnson hit a three a couple minutes later. It was 26-17. At the half, Holly High was on top 30-22.
The Indians came out on the warpath in the third. Kanaan DeBerry’s steal and bucket cut the deficit to four. At the 4:31 mark, RoMontrez Tuggles converted a threepoint play, and Byhalia had snatched the lead, 33-32.
They led by as many as five before the Hawks turned it back up a notch. M. Jones scored five points in a 40 second-stretch to put his team in front 44-43. Holly High never trailed again.
M. Jones scored off an assist from Faulkner. He was also fouled and sank a free throw to make it 49-45.
Byhalia’s Tuggles opened the fourth with a dunk.
Holly High slowed the game down in the last three minutes. Faulkner secured the win, going six for six from the charity stripe.
For the Hawks, Faulkner finished with a game-high 20 points. M. Jones added 13 and Johnson 11.
For the Indians, Jamarion Austin was the top gun with 16. Beard followed with 12. Lady Hawks-Lady Indians
In the first game of the night, the Holly Springs girls pulled away in the second quarter and went on to down Byhalia 38-22.
The Lady Hawks never trailed.
Arkjah Sims drilled back-to-back threes late in the first quarter to put the Lady Hawks up 9-2.
The lead was increased to 15-4 with 3:39 to go in the second, thanks to Natalya Jones’ three-point play.
Dajah Turner hit a three late in the second quarter. Holly High was up 26-9 at intermission.
Byhalia pulled to within 12 in the third on a three by Mikayla Echols and a two by Jasmine Malone.
Holly High went back up by 17 points, 31-14, before Malone led a late surge to pull the Lady Indians within 13 at the end of the third.
The Lady Hawks slowed the pace in the fourth and left Byhalia with the 16-point win.
Top scorer for Holly High was Turner with 11.
Malone had 16 for the Lady Indians.
The Indians (6-12 overall and 3-2 in the district) and the Lady Indians (4-13 and 1-3) hosted district opponent North Panola on Tuesday of this week. They host Rosa Fort, another district foe, Friday. Next Tuesday, Feb. 1, they go to Independence for district contests.
The Indians (6-12 overall and 3-2 in the district) and the Lady Indians (4-13 and 1-3) hosted district opponent North Panola on Tuesday of this week. They host Rosa Fort, another district foe, Friday. Next Tuesday, Feb. 1, they go to Independence for district contests.
The Holly High boys played in the 30th annual Hotbed Classic at New Albany Saturday and won (see separate story).
The Hawks entered this week’s competition at 7-12 overall and 3-3 in the district, while the Lady Hawks were at 4-12 and 2-3.